Germany

FIFA World Ranking: 11th

2002 World Cup qualifying: Finished second in UEFA "Group 9" (5-1-2; 14 GF, 10 GA); defeated Ukraine in home-and-home playoff 5-2 on aggregate score

2001 Overall Record: 6-2-3

World Cup final appearances: 15 - 1934 (3rd), 1938 (10th), 1954 (1st), 1958 (4th), 1962 (7th), 1966 (2nd), 1970 (3rd), 1974 (1st), 1978 (6th), 1982 (2nd), 1986 (2nd), 1990 (1st), 1994 (5th), 1998 (7th), 2002

Overall Record in WC: 45-16-17

Record vs. U.S.: 3-2-0; 9 GF, 8 GA

Most Recent Match vs. U.S.: U.S. 2, Germany 0 in Guadalajara, Mexico; July 30, 1999 (Moore, Olsen)

Manager: Rudi Voller (GER)

Championship Honors: 1954, 1974 & 1990 World Cup champions; 1972, 1980 & 1996 European champions

Key Players: Mehmet Scholl (M, Bayern Munich), Oliver Kahn (GK, Bayern Munich)

Fast Facts: Continued their perfect qualification record in 2002, qualifying for their 15th overall World Cup finals (second only to Brazil's 17 appearances).... Won three World Cups as West Germany, which is second only to Brazil's four titles.... Only country to make it to the championship game in three consecutive World Cups (doing so from 1982 to 1990).... Michael Ballack led the team with five goals in the 2002 qualifying campaign, while goalkeeper Oliver Kahn continues to backstop the German defense.